From Mobiles to Moss: Bespoke Design and Fabrication by FabCafe Kuala Lumpur

This article is the third in a series highlighting recent projects and happenings at FabCafe Kuala Lumpur. Read the first article here and the second here.

FabCafes across the world thrive on being a space for creative people to meet, make, and do — all with a nice hot drink in hand. On top of being both a cafe and event space, many FabCafes also work directly with clients with unique fabrication or design needs. FabCafe Kuala Lumpur is no exception, putting their expertise to work with clients from domestic telecom giants to international chains.

U Mobile: Custom fabrication with a tight turnaround

In January 2025, U Mobile, one of the leading telecommunications company in Malaysia, wanted to unveil Malaysia’s first 360º immersive dome in conjunction with the opening of their largest flagship store. Visitors stepping inside the dome can experience augmented reality experiences enriched by high-fidelity audio and video systems. U Mobile envisioned another groundbreaking feature for the dome: a fully programmable, illuminated “skin” to adorn the outer dome.

The challenge was significant: U Mobile already had the dome frame, but they needed a partner who could design, fabricate, and install a custom, lighted outer dome skin — in only two weeks. Regular contractors and conventional signage companies were unable to meet the specific demands for high customisation and the incredibly tight timeframe. The standard lead time for lightbox materials alone was two weeks, a luxury U Mobile didn’t have for their upcoming opening ceremony.

Enter FabCafe Kuala Lumpur. Instead of being limited by standard supplier lead times, the team quickly devised an innovative alternative that bypassed the typical two-week wait for materials. Their ability to fabricate exactly what they needed was only possible thanks to years of experience and the right equipment on hand.

The FabCafe Kuala Lumpur team designed and implemented the entire lightbox dome structure within just two weeks — a testament to their rapid prototyping and deployment capabilities. Thanks to them, the dome was ready for its grand unveiling, becoming U Mobile’s first in-store immersive 360º dome, only a stone’s throw away from FabCafe Kuala Lumpur at the Sunway Pyramid.

Fabrication Collaborations: working with local studio Ohsum Mossum

The only thing better than pulling off a big project is doing it with fellow creatives. So when there was an opportunity to craft an installation at the new Malaysian flagship store for Chinese bubble tea chain Chagee, FabCafe Kuala Lumpur saw a chance for a team up. Ohsum Mossum Studio, a local design studio that designs botanical installations for interior and landscaping projects seemed like an ideal partner.

The FabCafe team crafted a detailed design proposal to meet Chagee’s needs within the retail space. They proposed an elaborate, custom-cut wooden panel, inlaid with moss to accent the store name and famous sights of the city upon the sign. In close collaboration with the designers at Ohsum Mossum, the FabCafe team designed and prototyped the installation. After Chagee approved of the initial samples, FabCafe Kuala Lumpur handled the final fabrication in their own workshop, as well as the on-site installation.

Thanks to FabCafe Kuala Lumpur’s local partnerships and in-house facilities, Chagee got an iconic installation for their flagship store, delighting customers day in and day out.

Since moving to a larger space, FabCafe Kuala Lumpur has hosted dozens of workshops and events, featuring artists from local neurodivergent youth to international avant-garde musicians. They’ve leveraged their new space to serve thousands of cafe customers, clients, and workshop participants. Every month brings new innovations and new ways for the cafe to reach its community. What does the future hold? Whatever it is, it’s going to be fab.